Jacksonville man slain, 2 sisters wounded after cheerleading practice

Wednesday

Aug 25, 2010 at 2:40 PM

Jim Schoettler

A convicted Jacksonville drug offender slain in a triple-shooting Tuesday that left his daughter and her sister injured drove off with them from a neighborhood cheerleading practice moments before the attack, witnesses said.

Scores of children and adults ran for cover after the shooting near the Grand Park Athletic Association on Division Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Northwest Jacksonville, Anthony Stinson, the association's president, said Wednesday.

Police are still hunting for the gunman who sprayed the car with a rifle, repeatedly hitting Johnnie "J.R." Ross Hoover, 28. He died at the hospital.

Also wounded were Hoover's 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old stepdaughter, said Livingston Hoover, Hoover's cousin. One of the girls had a badly wounded arm, while the other was shot in the leg. Both are recovering at a hospital.

Stinson said several people who went to aid the victims included two coaches who cradled the wounded sisters in their arms before rescue crews arrived, witnesses said. The shooting occurred just after practice for cheerleading and football ended about 8:30 p.m.

"How can you just be so blatant, so callous? It's just like life means absolutely nothing to you," Stinson said of the attack and subsequent chaos.

Sheriff John Rutherford said Hoover was an intended target of the attack, but no motive has been given. Police records show Hoover has been arrested at least 24 times since 2001 and as recently as June. His convictions include possession of cocaine and marijuana.

Stinson said Hoover's daughter was a cheerleader at the association. He said Hoover arrived with the younger girl, picked up his daughter and drove out of the association's parking lot.

Hoover's car was stopped at a nearby light at MLK Parkway and Division streets when another vehicle drove beside the driver's door and someone opened fire. The car then drove off.

Stinson said there were about 60 to 70 children and adults in the park. Those people, unaware of where the gunshots were coming from, went into a panic.

"I saw the kids running toward the concession stand and we told them, 'Get on the ground. Get on the ground,'" Stinson said.

Stinson said he went to Hoover's car and saw the coaches holding the two girls, who had been taken from the back seat. He described the girl wounded in the arm as having a severe injury and possibly in shock. He said the other girl was also startled.

Stinson said he was worried about the trauma the girls will now face.

"It is terrible. The kids are going to have to live with that for the rest of their lives," Stinson said.

Lloyd Washington, president of the Grand Park Community Association, said he was saddened by the violence.

"We send our prayers out to the family of the man who got shot and the kids," Washington said. "I hope they [the suspect or suspects] get caught as soon as possible."

Stinson said the shooting had nothing to do with the association and he encouraged parents to continue bringing their children to the park. He said about 400 children play football and cheerlead at the association.

"We're going to do everything in our power to make sure the kids are safe," he said.

Anyone with information can contact the Sheriff's Office at (904) 630-0500 or First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477 (845-TIPS) to remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards. Or e-mail JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org or rewards@fccrimestoppers.com.

jim.schoettler@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4385

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